Christine Essel

Assemblyman Paul Krekorian (D-Los Angeles) is on his way to the Los Angeles City Council after being elected by a double-digit margin Tuesday, a shift that has set the stage for what is expected to be a contentious special election to fill his Sacramento seat. Krekorian earned 57% of the 19,170 votes cast, defeating former Paramount Pictures executive Christine Essel, who won more than 43% of the vote. His win came despite record-setting spending in support of Essel, who was backed by more than $1.8 million, compared with the $746,653 spent on Krekorian’s behalf, according to the most recent financial disclosures from the Los Angeles Ethics Commission.

Assemblyman Paul Krekorian (D-Los Angeles) is on his way to the Los Angeles City Council after being elected by a double-digit margin Tuesday, a shift that has set the stage for what is expected to be a contentious special election to fill his Sacramento seat. Krekorian earned 57% of the 19,170 votes cast, defeating former Paramount Pictures executive Christine Essel, who won over 43% of voters. His win came despite record-setting spending in support of Essel, who was backed by a total of more than $1.8 million, compared with the $746,653 spent on Krekorian’s behalf, according to the most recent financial disclosures from the Los Angeles Ethics Commission.

Democratic Assemblyman Paul Krekorian will make his final campaign push for Los Angeles City Council over the weekend in advance of an election Tuesday that could spur a race to replace him. Krekorian is one of 10 candidates vying to take over for now-L.A. City Controller Wendy Greuel as the city’s representative for Council District 2, which sweeps across the San Fernando Valley from Sherman Oaks to Tujunga. He is considered one of three front-runners, and many observers expect him to be one of the top two vote-getters Tuesday, which would qualify him for a runoff election Dec. 8. Any candidate receiving more than 50% of the vote Tuesday could be elected outright, but most consider that scenario unlikely as each of the so-called big three candidates for the spot have received significant support and endorsements in an increasingly tight race.

Democratic Assemblyman Paul Krekorian was the top vote-getter in Tuesday’s special election to fill a vacancy on the Los Angeles City Council and will now move on to a runoff election Dec. 8. He will go head-to-head with former California Film Commission Chairwoman Christine Essel, who finished second in Tuesday’s election for L.A.’s 2nd Council District. A Krekorian victory could temporarily leave the 43rd Assembly District, which covers Glendale and Burbank, without a representative.

Assemblyman Paul Krekorian (D-Los Angeles) is on his way to the Los Angeles City Council after being elected by a double-digit margin Tuesday, a shift that has set the stage for what is expected to be a contentious special election to fill his Sacramento seat. Krekorian earned 57% of the 19,170 votes cast, defeating former Paramount Pictures executive Christine Essel, who won more than 43% of the vote. His win came despite record-setting spending in support of Essel, who was backed by more than $1.8 million, compared with the $746,653 spent on Krekorian’s behalf, according to the most recent financial disclosures from the Los Angeles Ethics Commission.

Assemblyman Paul Krekorian (D-Los Angeles) is on his way to the Los Angeles City Council after being elected by a double-digit margin Tuesday, a shift that has set the stage for what is expected to be a contentious special election to fill his Sacramento seat. Krekorian earned 57% of the 19,170 votes cast, defeating former Paramount Pictures executive Christine Essel, who won over 43% of voters. His win came despite record-setting spending in support of Essel, who was backed by a total of more than $1.8 million, compared with the $746,653 spent on Krekorian’s behalf, according to the most recent financial disclosures from the Los Angeles Ethics Commission.